By Nick DeLorenzo
On paper, Thursday’s matchup between Neshaminy and Council Rock South seemed like a foregone conclusion. After all, the Redskins were sitting atop the SOL National Conference with an undefeated league record while the Golden Hawks were struggling to break free from the middle of the pack.
Someone forgot to tell this to Greg Welsh.
Behind the dazzling complete game performance of the Penn State-bound senior hurler, Rock South defeated Neshaminy 3-1.
The Redskins threatened to break the game open early, loading the bases with one out in the second inning, but Welsh managed to escape allowing just one run on an RBI groundout.
The Hawks answered back in the third when Jerry Mulderig scored on a passed ball to tie the game at 1-1. In the fourth, South manufactured a few runs off Neshaminy hurler Ray Hyjurick, scoring on a bases-loaded walk by Paul DiFede and an RBI groundout by Mulderig to take a 3-1 lead.
That was all the run support Welsh needed.
After escaping the second inning jam, he was nearly untouchable the rest of the way, retiring 15 of the final 17 batters he faced for the complete game victory.
Welsh was able to throw both his fastball and his hard slider for strikes all afternoon, keeping hitters off balance while only allowing a handful of hard-hit balls.
“I knew right when I was warming up in the bullpen [before the game] that I felt good today,” said Welsh, who finished with 10 strikeouts while allowing only three hits.
Welsh went out of his way to give credit his defense – the Golden Hawks committed zero errors on the day, which is especially crucial in a pitcher’s duel.
“Everyone behind me did a great job fielding,” Welsh said. “I’m really happy the way we all played today.”
After a slow start from his southpaw, South head coach Greg Young was thrilled with the way Welsh was able to bounce back and carry his team to a win.
“Early in the ball game he had some control issues, but he seemed to work his way out of it,” Young said. “When he throws multiple pitches for strikes he’s really tough to hit.”
“He could probably tell [the batter] that he’s going to throw his slider, and he still wouldn’t hit it,” Young continued. “Once he gets settled in, he’s the real deal.”
Hyjurick was the hard-luck loser for Neshaminy (6-1), tossing a complete game while allowing just three runs. Rick Brebner hit a double in the sixth inning, the game’s only extra-base hit.
Welsh was conscious of the Redskins’ potent lineup and had a game plan in order to maximize his performance on the mound.
“They have Brebner, [John] Burns – a couple good hitters,” Welsh said. “I stayed away from them by throwing my slider. In earlier games, my slider wasn’t as on, but today I could throw it for strikes.”
Thursday’s win, along with a win Wednesday against Truman, brings South (5-4) back in the thick of things in the SOL National. After going through a rough patch early in the season, Young believes his team is back on the right track and ready to make a playoff run.
“It’s a good win,” the Golden Hawks’ coach said. “Neshaminy is a good ballclub. This was a big game and I think they knew it and we knew. We’re not a 4-4 team and I think we’re going to start proving it.”
The special thing about this team, according to Young, is the contributions from every player on the roster – a well-balanced squad with a new hero every time out.
“We’ve shuffled some kids in and out,” Young said. “We use a lot of guys because we have confidence in our entire roster. These guys are here for a reason – they are all really good players. They’re playing well as a team, and that’s everybody.”
After such an important and emotional win, the Hawks’ confidence is sky-high, and Welsh is excited for his team’s future.
“We’re right back in the playoff race,” Welsh said. “I just can’t wait to play next week.”
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